Iran and North Korea challenge US Diplomacy: the first, with the shipment of gasoline to Venezuela, and the second, with reinforcing “nuclear deterrence.”
This is stated by the American magazine Newsweek in an editorial published on Saturday. The article believes that the US Administration, chaired by Donald Trump, faces two great “tests” while being distracted by the pandemic of the new coronavirus.
On Saturday night, the first Iranian-flagged oil tanker loaded with gasoline and additives arrived in Venezuela, despite US warnings.
The US government had previously threatened to intervene if the Islamic Republic of Iran delivered fuel to Venezuela.Iran, in turn, warned the same day that it would respond to a possible American intervention with the use of force. For Iran, its trade with Venezuela belongs to two independent countries and, therefore, this matter should not concern anybody in the world.
Sending Iranian fuel to Venezuela, in clear defiance of US warnings and sanctions, “heightens Trump’s concerns,” according to Newsweek.
Iran is also planning to send four other tankers to the South American country despite opposition from the Trump Administration, which uses unsuccessful anti-Iranian rhetoric to intimidate the Islamic Republic.
North Korea, according to Newsweek, is Trump’s second challenge. This Sunday, the North Korean state news agency, KCNA, has advanced the Asian country’s decision to strengthen its “nuclear deterrence” during a meeting in which military and political leaders participated, and which was chaired by the country’s leader, Kim Jong -a.
The debates also focused on “putting the strategic armed forces on alert”, in a context of “increase and development of the Armed Forces” in Pyongyang.
North Korea’s decision to strengthen “nuclear deterrence” will increase pressure on Trump due to lack of progress in negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang on denuclearization on the Korean peninsula.
Talks between US and North Korea have been stagnant for more than a year due to first’s refusal to ease sanctions against the Asian country.
Given this situation, Kim has said that he will continue developing the strategic weapons he needs to defend himself while the United States. don’t end hostile policy.
